Yale or Princeton Premed

[sparklingwater]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I am current deciding between Yale and Princeton for my undergrad. Financial aid is about the same, and it will only cost me 20k/yr at either institution (10% family income), so I won't be taking out any loans.

I admittedly do like Princeton a bit more, location, focus on undergrads, etc. Both schools are great in my areas of interest. Given Princeton's average GPA is around a 3.3 and Yale's is closer to a 3.6 because of Princeton's massive grade deflation, I am a bit concerned if I'll be able to keep my GPA up. Since I got in purely on academics, I think I'd be a strong student, but any insight on how difficult Princeton is would be helpful

I am also not 100% sure on medicine yet - more like 60%. I could go get a PhD four years from now for all I know.

Where would you go in my situation? Anyone have any insight into being a pre-med at either university? Thanks

 

[Pons Asinorum]

OP, I'm sorry, but this thread will quickly turn into a joke. Best of luck. And go to Princeton if you like it more.

 

[deleted357625]

princeton

 

[Slowpoke]

community college

 

[deleted357625]

community college

👍👍👍

 

[bucks2010]

OP, I'm sorry, but this thread will quickly turn into a joke. Best of luck. And go to Princeton if you like it more.

+1. go where you want.

take the ensuing flaming you will receive here with a grain of salt.

 

[slowbutsteady]

Yale. Princeton is creepy preppy.

 

[theWUbear]

The 'average GPA' fact mentioned was pretty interesting. Yale has an attached med school (a factor that increases opportunities for clinical and bench research, volunteering and programs in the medical setting), that's something to consider. For those two reasons I might lean Yale.

 

[Pons Asinorum]

Yale. Princeton is creepy preppy.

As opposed to Yale, which has banished all vestiges of preppiness from the streets of New Haven...

 

[Ignatius M.D.]

The 'average GPA' fact mentioned was pretty interesting.

If it's really true then surely ADCOMs will take that into consideration.

Yale. Princeton is creepy preppy.

Most top schools are creepy preppy.

OP: I'd choose Princeton. If I'd had my choice of any school it would've been Princeton.

 

[slowbutsteady]

As opposed to Yale, which has banished all vestiges of preppiness from the streets of New Haven...

Yes, this is a true statement.

The gritty, interesting people turn down Princeton for Yale. The blond Ralph Lauren types go to Princeton, where they belong.

 

[Ignatius M.D.]

Yes, this is a true statement.

The gritty, interesting people turn down Princeton for Yale. The blond Ralph Lauren types go to Princeton, where they belong.

Hey, what's wrong with blond people that like RL? Not cool.

 

[Pons Asinorum]

Yes, this is a true statement.

The gritty, interesting people turn down Princeton for Yale. The blond Ralph Lauren types go to Princeton, where they belong.

 

[Monocles]

Since you said it yourself, you're not 100% certain you will go into medicine so don't even worry about that yet. Both Princeton and Yale will have wonderful pre-med resources, so your biggest deciding factor right now should be which school will be a better fit for you overall.

 

[slowbutsteady]

Very nice! I see you've been to New Haven.

 

[docelh]

Without a doubt, go to Harvard.

jk.

I would go to Yale because that tough anti-inflation stuff at Princeton is no joke.

 

[wavewheel]

I went to Yale and loved it, but you've got to go with your heart on this and not worry about where you'll get a better GPA. If you think you like Princeton better, go there.

For what it's worth, New Haven is about ten times cooler than everyone makes it out to be. There are tasty restaurants, cool volunteering opportunities, and some great running and biking routes. If you're into anything outdoorsy, the New England mountains/countryside begin in earnest about an hour and a half from campus, and are much better than anything you can get to a similar distance from Princeton.

 

[rhcarolina]

For what it's worth, New Haven is about ten times cooler than everyone makes it out to be. There are tasty restaurants, cool volunteering opportunities, and some great running and bIf you're into anything outdoorsy, the New England mountains/countryside begin in earnest about an hour and a half from campus, and are much better than anything you can get to a similar distance from Princeton.

Like NYC?

 

[b-real]

Like NYC?

Ahh yes, the mountains and countryside of NYC is amazing this time of year.

 

[VisionaryTics]

Without a doubt, go to Harvard.

jk.

I would go to Yale because that tough anti-inflation stuff at Princeton is no joke.

Agreed. Everyone thinks they can be the one that sets the curve, but adcoms don't care about grade deflation/inflation. They see that your cGPA is 0.2 lower than person B, and they want their admissions stats to look shiny.

Yale and Princeton are both fantastic schools, though. Congrats.

 

[estradiol9]

I don't comprehend how the OP got financial aid if they can afford to pull 80k out of pocket to pay for undergrad tuition. I wasn't offered any need-based financial aid and had to take out student loans to pay for everything. /end rant

With that said, where do you live? I'd probably pick based off of location at that point. If it were up to me, I'd pick Princeton because it'd be easier for me to visit home/friends. Both are great schools. It seems like it will cost you the same to attend either one.

Don't make your decision based off of the average GPA of either school. Medical school adcoms know which schools inflate GPAs and which don't, so when you apply with a high GPA from an undergrad institution that is known for deflating grades, it will be more impressive than applying from an institution that doesn't.

 

[2sk0ol4c0ol]

Are you sure that you got accepted to one of these schools? I doubt you did. This seems like one of those threads started by lonely/bored losers who are so insecure that they have to anonymously post threads like 'should I go to Harvard or Oxford?' Really, If you are that clever than you should be able to reach a conclusion by yourself.

Also your question is going to be answered with bias. The gunners will say Princeton because it always tops Yale in ranking, while others will say Yale because it has a med school and blah blah blah, the list goes on and on. No one can for sure say that you will be better of at school X or school Y we do not know enough about you to say that you will do good in either school. (i'd say neither cause I think you are lonely insecure loser and you got into neither and your making these things up so ppl can help you heighten your low sense of self-worth.)

BUT, if this isn't you ask someone who knows you better a teacher, a friend or parent. Also consider what school is more convenient for you. Is school X further away from home than school Y. You would choose X if you hate your helicopter parents and Y if you get homesick easily. No one here can tell you what choice is better for you. They will only tell you what they choose.

 

[getdown]

If you're not at Harvard than you're dreams for getting into med school pretty much is done for. OP, sorry to break it to you, but you're now only qualified to be a nurse (or Carib grad, they're pretty similar). *bolts the room*

 

[Anonymous01]

Agreed. Everyone thinks they can be the one that sets the curve, but adcoms don't care about grade deflation/inflation. They see that your cGPA is 0.2 lower than person B, and they want their admissions stats to look shiny.

Yale and Princeton are both fantastic schools, though. Congrats.

This is absolutely wrong. Grade inflation/deflation is taken into account. This post by LizzyM explains it: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=10879463&postcount=41

We use US news ranking and we have other data such as avg MCAT and avg gpa among applicants. That shows, for example, that Wash U, Dartmouth and Reed College have virtually identical avg MCATs but Reed has a avg gpa that is 0.2 lower than the other two schools, evidence of the lack of grade inflation there, something we do take into account.

 

[BadHorse]

If you're not at Harvard than you're dreams for getting into med school pretty much is done for. OP, sorry to break it to you, but you're now only qualified to be a nurse (or Carib grad, they're pretty similar). *bolts the room*

This is a common misconception. While it should be obvious that Yale and Princeton won't look nearly as good as Harvard, students from these schools often fare better than their more intelligent counterparts precisely because of the poor backgrounds from which they come. Coming from an adverse environment like Princeton and rising, despite the poor working conditions and frequent soft-core princetonian gang fights (known colloquially as "bickers") can make for an inspirational personal statement. Poor Yalites often have to "make their bones" before they can be respected in their community, a process that often involves being a total d*** for no apparent reason.

When all is said and done it is best not to judge others for their unfortunate backgrounds but to commend them when they rise above. Best of luck, OP. You'll need it.

 

[the duck]

This is absolutely wrong. Grade inflation/deflation is taken into account. This post by LizzyM explains it: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=10879463&postcount=41

and guess who LizzyM was replying to in that post 😎

Honestly though, just go wherever you see yourself being happiest, your looking at two of the top schools in the nation.

 

[searun]

Didn't George Bush II go to Yale? So go to Princeton, and, then, if you must go to Yale Medical School.

 

[bucks2010]

This is a common misconception. While it should be obvious that Yale and Princeton won't look nearly as good as Harvard, students from these schools often fare better than their more intelligent counterparts precisely because of the poor backgrounds from which they come. Coming from an adverse environment like Princeton and rising, despite the poor working conditions and frequent soft-core princetonian gang fights (known colloquially as "bickers") can make for an inspirational personal statement. Poor Yalites often have to "make their bones" before they can be respected in their community, a process that often involves being a total d*** for no apparent reason.

When all is said and done it is best not to judge others for their unfortunate backgrounds but to commend them when they rise above. Best of luck, OP. You'll need it.

 

[NickNaylor]

My impression of New Haven was that it sucked ass. Maybe I missed out on the cool parts.

That said, the Yale undergrad library is gorgeous.

 

[Narmerguy]

My impression of New Haven was that it sucked ass. Maybe I missed out on the cool parts.

That said, the Yale undergrad library is gorgeous.

That's a real seller right there.

 

[getdown]

That's a real seller right there.

psh... who cares if the library is gorgeous, it's not like these Yaleis need to study with their "secret tests" and "P/F classes"

 

[LizzyM]

I checked my lists and Yale & Princeton differ only 0.04 in avg gpa of applicants to med school (far different than the difference between gpa of Wash U and Reed). The avg MCAT at the two schools is nearly identical as well.

 

[sparklingwater]

I checked my lists and Yale & Princeton differ only 0.04 in avg gpa of applicants to med school (far different than the difference between gpa of Wash U and Reed). The avg MCAT at the two schools is nearly identical as well.

Would you 'curve' a Princeton GPA up, so to speak because of that.

Though the surveys were pretty unscientic here is where I'm drawing my data http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2006/10/11/16142/

Do you think the GPA discrepancy is due to the fact only the top GPA Princeton students apply to med school? Would you be able to tell us the GPA of the respective schools (out of curiosity to see how it compares to the avg student in the survey).

 

[kcin]

Would you 'curve' a Princeton GPA up, so to speak because of that.

Though the surveys were pretty unscientic here is where I'm drawing my data http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2006/10/11/16142/

Do you think the GPA discrepancy is due to the fact only the top GPA Princeton students apply to med school? Would you be able to tell us the GPA of the respective schools (out of curiosity to see how it compares to the avg student in the survey).

Just go to school and don't suck. Problem solved. Shoo.

 

[slowbutsteady]

This is a common misconception. While it should be obvious that Yale and Princeton won't look nearly as good as Harvard, students from these schools often fare better than their more intelligent counterparts precisely because of the poor backgrounds from which they come. Coming from an adverse environment like Princeton and rising, despite the poor working conditions and frequent soft-core princetonian gang fights (known colloquially as "bickers") can make for an inspirational personal statement. Poor Yalites often have to "make their bones" before they can be respected in their community, a process that often involves being a total d*** for no apparent reason.

When all is said and done it is best not to judge others for their unfortunate backgrounds but to commend them when they rise above. Best of luck, OP. You'll need it.

Sort of clever, except Yale students are called "Yalies," not "Yalites."

But the "bickers" comment is awesome.

 

[Mahliah]

University of Phoenix

 

[gettheleadout]

Would you 'curve' a Princeton GPA up, so to speak because of that.

Though the surveys were pretty unscientic here is where I'm drawing my data http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2006/10/11/16142/

Do you think the GPA discrepancy is due to the fact only the top GPA Princeton students apply to med school? Would you be able to tell us the GPA of the respective schools (out of curiosity to see how it compares to the avg student in the survey).

She just told you the difference was less than half a tenth of a GPA point and you want to know if she would "curve a Princeton GPA up" because of this?

Also, why is this not is hSDN? It's the same principal as someone posting a med school vs med school question in Allo...

 

[Lil Mick]

Yale's campus is amazing, and there are a lot of opportunities for community service and involvement on campus. My friend in law school there has loved his experience and has made some good friends in his class...

That being said, Princeton has the Institute for Advanced Study, so if math and physics are your thing, Princeton might be a good option if you don't decide to go to medical school. I don't know if you're a woman or not, but they also have mentoring programs for women in science and mathematics (undergrad and grad).

 

[The Ponderosa]

I would choose Yale. When I was on the interview trail for MD/PhDs I saw more yalies the princetonians. Yale is similar to Duke in the sense of a having a slightly more pre-med focus. Both Princeton and Yale will be good though

 

[Narmerguy]

She just told you the difference was less than half a tenth of a GPA point and you want to know if she would "curve a Princeton GPA up" because of this?

Also, why is this not is hSDN? It's the same principal as someone posting a med school vs med school question in Allo...

I think the poster was suggesting that because his/her sources show that the average GPA's of princeton are much lower, that princeton medical school and yale/harvard medical school applicant GPAs are about the same might suggest that the princeton applicants are actually much stronger and had to compete much harder to achieve the same GPA score.

Or, perhaps the poster wanted to know if all of them get curved up in general?

And for the hSDN thing...I think sometimes a thread can be better answered here than in hSDN, much the same way so many threads can be answered better in Allo than pre-allo and it seems slightly odd that all the threads are removed (at least in the latter case) indiscriminately. However, historically the perception of pre-allo has always been that anything goes here and that stuff started elsewhere is often dumped here (or the all students graveyard).

 

[gravitywave]

I don't comprehend how the OP got financial aid if they can afford to pull 80k out of pocket to pay for undergrad tuition. I wasn't offered any need-based financial aid and had to take out student loans to pay for everything. /end rant

i take it you don't attend a school with need-blind admissions. Most Ivies have the kind of endowment that allows them to support their students much more generously than almost anywhere else. for example, if your family income is <$60k, you pay nothing at Harvard (zero tuition, zero loans).

I would choose Yale. When I was on the interview trail for MD/PhDs I saw more yalies the princetonians. Yale is similar to Duke in the sense of a having a slightly more pre-med focus. Both Princeton and Yale will be good though

sorry but this is ridiculous. either one is great, and will get you to where you need to go. who you met out of 100 or so people at interviews says nothing about the pre-med population from each school. are you sure you're a scientist?? 😕

to me the choice was between living in New Haven or living in Princeton. Yes Yale is closer to the Berkshires, but at Princeton you have the Delaware Water Gap within 90 minutes, it's not like you can't get outdoors if you want to. Princeton is also equidistant to both NYC and Philly, and isn't any further from Manhattan than New Haven is. I'd choose Princeton because i think the location is nicer - but some would prefer New Haven for that, and i get that too.